Potato-planter.



B. JOHNSON.

POTATO PLANTEB. APPLIOATIO! 11.21: 001225, 1912.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

Erik Johnson.

I-Won n r ERIK JOHNSON, or GRASSTON, MINNESOTA.

POTATO-PLANTEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

Application filed October 25, 1912. Serial No. 727,768.

, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERIK J OHNBON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Grasston, in the county of Kanabec and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Planters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of potato planters which areoperated by hand, and its object is to provide a planter of this kindwhich can be easily operated, that portion of the planter which entersthe ground being provided with a shar drivin point.

The invention also has or its 0 ject to so construct the driving pointthat it is strong, rigid and durable, and able to withstand hard work.

The herein stated objects are attained by a novel combination andarrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is aperspective view of the implement. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectionthereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawing, the implement comprises two planting blades 5and 6, respectively, which are pivotallv connected so that they may beopened or closed as will be presently described. These blades are soshaped that when they are closed up they form a hopper which is taperedto a point so that it may be readily driven into the ground. The hopperis given the shape of a four sided pyramid by forming each blade out ofa substantially trian ular sheet and bending the same in line with theapex thereof to give the sheet an angular crosssectional form. At thetop of the hopper, the two blades have lapping ears 7 through which thepivots 8, whereby the pivotal connection between the blades is made,pass.

It will be noted that one of the blades is shorter than the other andterminates a short distance from the point thereof. This short blade isindicated by the reference numeral 6, the other blade being indicated bythe numeral 5. The blade 5 has a shank 9 for attachment of a handle 10.

In order to reinforce the point of the blade 5, the blank out of whichsaid blade is formed has two tongues 11 at the side edges thereofadjacent to the apex. These two tongues are bent inward toward eachother, whereby the driving point of the blade is stiffened andreinforced so that it may be driven into heavy ground without danger ofbending. The free end of the blade 6 is shaped to fit snugly against theadjacent side of the reinforced extremity of the blade 5, a shortdistance from the point thereof, and the tongues forming the reinforcedportion are bent so as to coincide with the two sides of the blade 6.

By the herein described structure the continuity of the outer surface ofthe hopper is practically uninterrupted and is left smooth up to thepoint, in view of which there are no obstructions on the outside of thehopper to oppose its insertion into the ground. The'hopper is alsostrong and durable, and its driving point can penetrate heavy groundwithout danger of being bent out of shape.

From the blade 6 near the top thereof extends an arm 12 which is for thepurpose of opening the hopper. The hopper is adapted to be driven intothe ground until the arm strikes the surface of the latter, whereuponthe hopper swings open and the seed is discharged.

I claim:

A hand- )lanter comprising pivotally connected blades having across-sectional shape to form when closed a hopper, one of said bladesbeing tapered to a point and the other blade terminating short of saidpoint, the first mentioned blade having at its point side tonguesextending inward toward each other to reinforce the point, the free endof the other blade being shaped to fit against the adjacent sides of thereinforced point, and the tongues being arranged to coincide with thesides of said last-mentioned blade.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERIK JOHNSON.

Witnesses FRED C. Flinn,- Anvlo OLSQN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for the cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of ratents, Washington, D. O."

